The sound of chain sawing is breaking the stillness of the morning…

A cool front came behind the storm last night, meaning that there will be a cool spell for the next few days. It seemed important to start cleaning up the tree before the summer heat hits. And the summer bugs…

All the boys spent some time scrambling up and down the limbs. Dh measured the tree – 75 feet tall it was, and he figured out precisely where it would have hit the house if it had fallen the other way. And we were then glad again it had not.

Every camera in the house has been documenting the process… and every chainsaw is sitting ready to go. It will not be the typical mother’s day here… but it is a day of my family working together, being together, pulling together – and really, isn’t that what every mother wants?

Here are some photos from this morning.

Youngest in the trunkA bug casing? Tree disease?The birds are all bewildered... and there have been some agitated squirrels..Getting ready to work..Youngest really wanted to climb to the top...but was afraid. Middle son worked so sweetly.. encouraging, helping, offering a steadying hand...Victory is sweet, and calls for chest beating...My 6 ft king on his thrown...Can you see him in the tree? Even on its side, it is still very tall...There is my Eli bird, closer up.The wood is so many different colors...

Father and son, discussing strategy, and trying to teach grandsonsPondering the immensityThe calvary is ready...